News
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Option for early election is open, says Gilani* PM says elections will only be held after federal budget
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Amidst the chorus of calls for early elections, the government appears to have made its mind to go to the public for fresh mandate after Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani declared on Monday that option for early election is open.
This was the second statement in the last two days when Gilani showed his readiness for the fresh general elections, earlier than the expiry of the tenure of the current democratic dispensation.
As the prime minister showed his intension to hold earlier elections before the end of his government tenure, he, however reminded that any earlier elections would be held only after the announcement of federal budget, which is also being tabled in parliament in May contrary to the past traditions when federal budget was presented in June of every year.
“All those political elements who want early elections can talk to me but after the budget session,” the prime minister stated during a meeting with MNA Asim Nazir at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday.
Upon his return from Davos after attending the World Economic Forum the other day, Gilani also expressed similar views when he indicated that the government might go for the early elections after the budget.
The statement of the prime minister on this occasion is believed to be acceptance of the opposition’s demand, which has been lobbying hard for early polls in view of the perceived failure of the government to deliver during the last four years.
Though the country appears to be heading towards the early elections, political analysts believe that the PPP government would not let the opposition parties capitalise on its unpopularity, triggering from its failure to deliver any relief to masses.
With budget tool in its hand, the PPP government would try to make some inroads in the masses by doling out relief as well as subsidies on various items to win back its lost popularity.
If the government is sticking to the point that earlier elections are an option but only after budget then it is the clear sign that government would use budget as a tool to make up the losses it suffered on the popularity front. The wide-ranging thought in the political circles suggests that Gilani also discussed with Nazir the development projects in his constituency, who congratulated the prime minister for his successful visit to Davos, and his interaction with businessmen of the world.
He also appreciated the policy of the prime minister to take along the opposition and his efforts for strengthening of democracy in the country.
Asim apprised Gilani about various on-going development schemes in his constituency. The prime minister approved the schemes of village electrification, roads network and construction of boundary walls for schools in his constituency.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk